Jain Spirit 2003 10 No 16

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 29

The Jain Art Tradition
Shikhar on Parsvanatha hill, the
in Asthigrama (also called Girnar and Pavapuri enjoy a
Vardhamana or more recently traditional preeminence. Equally
Burdwan) and the next three important pilgrimage centres are
rainy seasons in Champa and the Dilwara temples, Ranakpur,
Prsthachampa (in the kingdom Palitana (Shatrunjaya), Shri
of Anga, conquered by the Taranga Tirtha, Shravana Belgola,
Magadha Emperor Bimbisara Nakoda Parsvanatha, Shri
who became a follower of Lord Jaiselmer Tirtha, Shankheswara
Mahavira). The next twelve Parsvanatha, Shri Kumbhariaji and
rainy seasons were spent in many other old and new temples.
Vaishali and Vanijyagrama and Many of them are in a state of
fourteen rainy seasons neglect and ruin, many were
thereafter in Rajagrha and transformed while others mistaken
Nalanda. Vaishali was the seat for as Buddhist. Quite a few
of republican Vrji-Licchavis temples have also been built on
and Vanijyagrama was a centre ancient and medieval sites.
of trade in the suburb of Noteworthy examples of Jain
Vaishali. According to the temples built overseas during the
Digambara and Shvetambara last twenty-five years, among
traditions, Lord Mahavira was others, are those in Leicester,
born in Kundagram. Some Nairobi, Mombasa, Chicago,
believe that Kundagram was Singapore, Kobe, Milpitas,
near Vaishali, while others say Antwerp and Los Angeles.
that he was born in Vaishali Innumerable temples and
because his mother was the monuments, educational and
sister of the head of the research institutions, hospitals,
Licchavi republic. According dharmasalas and dadabaris have
to another theory, Kundagram been built by the Jains in India Mt. Girnar : Many of the pilgrimage sites
was near Nalanda. Be as it may,
are on mountain tops throughout history.
the Vaishali and Nalanda Many ancient sites bear witness
regions were undoubtedly the to the glory of the Jain tradition in Bihar. Apart from the stronghold of Lord Mahavira's following. It was in the association of many Tirthankaras with Bihar, including Lord Vaishali region that, in all probability, he was blessed with Parsva and Lord Mahavira, many important rulers there were the ultimate enlightenment. Regrettably, there is so far no followers of Jainism, among whom were Srenik (Bimbisara), befitting commemoration of Mahavira in the Vaishali or Ajatasatru (Kunika), Cetaka, Nandivardhna, Chandragupta Nalanda region. Maurya (grandfather of Emperor Ashoka) and Samprati The Rajgir(Rajagrha)-Nalanda area, which Lord (grandson of Emperor Ashoka). According to tradition, the tenth Mahavira frequented, though bereft of its ancient glory in Tirthankara, Sitalanatha was born in Kuluha; the twentieth, stone, has many eloquent reminders of the Jain tradition. Munisuvrata in Rajagrha; the twenty-first, Naminatha in Veerayatan is a modern Jain centre of humanitarian service Mithila; and the twenty-fourth, Vardhamana Mahavira was and spiritual quest in Rajgir. There are Jain temples on the born in Kundangram (Kundalgram) near Vaishali.
top of the five hills: Vipulachala, Ratnagiri, Udaygiri. The teachings of Lord Parsva and Lord Mahavira held Svarnagiri and Vaibharagiri. The Chinese traveller Hiuen sway in the Kingdom of Kasi-Kosala, Anga-Magadha and in Tsang, who visited India from 629-655 AD, noted the the territories of the Vrji-Licchavis and Mallas. Besides these presence of Jain Nirgranthas on Vaibharagiri. There are Parsvanatha hill, Rajgrha, Nalanda, Vaisali, Pava. Sravasti, footprints of Jain Tirthankaras and many Jain images on the Champa (near Bhagalpur), Mithila (Janakpur), Kuluha hill and five hills in Rajgir. An ancient image of Lord Parsvanatha the districts of Gaya, Manbhum, Singhbhum, Dhanbad, lends lustre to a cave in Udaygiri hill. There is a Jain Sahabad. Arrah, Bhagalpur and Patna are replete with treasures inscription in the Sonabhandar caves, once identified as of Jain antiquities and associations, most of which have been Buddhist Sattapanni caves. A figure of Parsva with the sentenced to tragic neglect or quiet oblivion.
seven-headed serpent hood was found by General In Kalpasutra we have an account of the areas in which Cunningham sometime around 1851-62 in Moniyar Math, Lord Mahavira spent the forty-two rainy seasons after his which has a Jain shrine located on a brick mound. renunciation at the age of thirty. He spent his first rainy season Lord Mahavira attained nirvana in Pavapuri. The
Photo: Dinodia
September - November 2003. Jain Spirit
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Jain Education Intemational 2010_03